Smith on STEM Jobs Act Vote: Democrats Vote Against Jobs and Economy

Statement

The House of Representatives today voted on the STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429) but it fell short of a two-thirds majority needed to move the bill under suspension of the rules in a vote of 257-158. This bill eliminates the diversity visa program and reallocates up to 55,000 new green cards to the most highly qualified foreign graduates of American universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) expressed disappointment in House Democrats' decision to vote against a bill that would help boost our economy and create jobs.

Chairman Smith: "The STEM Jobs Act is an important bill that will help us create jobs, increase our competitiveness, and spur our innovation. It makes our immigration system smarter by eliminating the fraud-ridden diversity visa program and reallocating those visas to foreign graduates of American universities who could help make us more competitive in the global economy.

"We cannot afford to educate these foreign graduates in the U.S. and then send them back home to work for our competitors. For America to be the world's economic leader, we must have access to the world's best talent. Unfortunately, Democrats today voted to send the best and brightest foreign graduates back home to work for our global competitors. Democrats voted against a bill that helps American businesses hire the most qualified foreign graduates with advanced STEM degrees. Their vote against this bill is a vote against economic growth and job creation."

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